Man with cystic fibrosis ‘repeatedly ignored’ by housing association in Lewisham

A man who suffers from cystic fibrosis claims he has been repeatedly ignored by his housing association, following a number of serious complaints.

Jamie Squirrell, 38, of Childers Street, Deptford, has submitted a complaint to his housing association regarding problems he says have seriously affected his health since 2018.

Mr Squirrell lives with his partner, Aimee Saunders, 31, in a purpose-built disability flat run by PA Housing.

He said he has had to live with problems within the block including leaks, mould and disrepair to the main front door that have not been fixed.

Miss Saunders said: “These issues have affected not only Jamie’s physical health but both mine and Jamie’s mental health. 

“The stress that all of this has caused over years has taken its toll, We have been neglected and treated appallingly over the years.” 

Every year since 2018 a complaint has also been submitted from hospital consultants and specialists on behalf of Mr Squirrell.

The couple said they call PA Housing every couple of weeks to get the complaint resubmitted to the complaints department and the business insight team. 

However, from the first complaint they have not received a single response from PA Housing.

Their complaint has been submitted more than 35 times.

In 2020, building work underneath Mr Squirrell’s flat caused fumes to rise into his room.

He claims that no proper risk assessment was carried out before the building work started.

Mr Squirrell raised his concerns with his specialist nurse, Lance Dennard, at Lewisham Healthcare.

Mr Dennard wrote to PA Housing, saying: “I have written numerous times previously in support of Jamie’s request for housing issues to be addressed, but am doing so again as his current accommodation now poses an immediate risk to his health.”

Ian Watts, Executive Director of Customer Services at PA Housing, said:  “We are aware of Mr Squirrell’s disability.

 “We have arranged appointments with Mr Squirrell for our contractor to resolve any outstanding repairs in his home. 

“This includes our surveyor inspecting his home and a damp and mould treatment booked for this Friday.”

Pictured Top: Jamie Squirrell (Picture: Jamie Squirrell)